Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Incredible Bookstores of Taipei

After a visit to Taipei’s most famous
library, I was eager to check out some of the city’s unique bookstores. We
explored everything from the famous chains like Eslite and Kingstown, to
obscure places like mystery-themed store Murder Ink and art book store Artland.
This is a city where people love to read and appreciate a unique buying experience.

Eslite

誠品網路書店

Taiwan’s largest and most famous bookstore is
worth a visit for the sheer volume of it. There is an Eslite near practically
every major station and each once has something special to offer. One Eslite we
visited featured an art gallery on the fifth floor. I compare Eslite to Japan’s
Tsutaya, which also exists in Taiwan.

Kingstone

金石堂書店

Another chain bookstore with the typical
offerings, but a little more down to Earth and with cheaper prices on some
items.

Mollie Used Books 茉莉二手書店

A popular stop down a narrow allow by the
university, this bookstore offers a large variety of magazines and used books
for very reasonable prices.

Murder Ink

偵探書屋

A mystery- and murder-themed bookstore and
café, with a curated collection by the other and other enthusiasts of mystery
novels.

Artland

亞典藝術書店

Focusing solely on Artbooks from around the
world, Artland also features a small gallery with local artists, as well as a
café.

VVG

好样本事

A small shop covered wth greenery sells
foreign books and antiques. A very cool place to check out for gifts and things
you can’t find in other shops.

Muji Books 無印良品

Famous clothing brand Muji from Japan has
it’s own bookstore in Taipei, which features Chinese-translations of popular
Japanese books.